Applying Dynamic Performance Management to Foster Collaborative Governance in Higher Education: A Conceptual Framework

Abstract

Higher education is characterized by growing complexity and uncertainty, which highlight how wicked issues cannot be addressed by one organization acting alone. A collaborative governance approach is here proposed to tackle these issues. Such a perspective has been implemented widely, from public services design and delivery to infrastructure development and environmental protection. Although higher education is not less critical than the above areas, less attention has been paid to collaborative governance in this field. To foster collaborative governance in higher education, based on a literature review, we develop a conceptual framework using the dynamic performance management approach. This study aims to contribute to the literature and to support decision-makers to implement collaborative governance strategies to achieve the three university missions. Future research is required to test the validity of the proposed framework. The use of a system dynamics simulation model could offer an effective environment to simulate alternative collaborative governance strategies in higher education institutions.